Foiled at home in Bohol, Jonathan Pagaura focuses on a top podium finish in a short course race down south this time as he headlines the crack Penong’s 5150 Davao field with the event firing off on Sept. 4 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Pagaura, a Maribojoc native, yielded the overall crown and the 25-29 age group title to Lanao del Norte’s Satar Salem in Sun Life 5150 on his home turf last July but has toughened up for another stab at glory in the upcoming endurance race set over the Olympic distance of 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run.
The Omega Triathlon Team spearhead likewise saw action in the recent Ironman 70.3 Philippines Cebu but could only post a seventh place finish in his age division and 17th in the overall competition.
But those stints only made the former duathlete a lot tougher and ready for another shot at 5150 glory against an equally determined international field at The Wrec, Hijo Resorts Davao.
There are 10 foreign entries so far, including two each from France and the United Kingdom, who are in the early roster of the event organized by The Ironman Group/Sunrise Events, Inc., as triathlon heads to Mindanao for the first time since the pandemic.